Bible Commentaries
2 Chronicles 36

Verses 1-23

The Fall of Jerusalem

This is a brief record of the reigns of Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah, and of the destruction of Jerusalem.

The first twenty vv. of this chapter are abbreviated from 2 Kings 23:30 to 2 Kings 25:21, with some variations of statement.

6. Nebuchadnezzar] He was the son of Nabopolassar, the conqueror of Nineveh.

Bound him in fetters] This is not recorded in Kings. Perhaps this was the ’purpose’ of the invasion described in 2 Kings 24:2, but Jehoiakim may have averted the threatened consequences by a timely surrender. The statement of Chronicles is followed in Daniel 1:1, Daniel 1:2.

8. That which was found in him] i.e. his offences: cp. 1 Kings 1:52.

9. Eight] 2 Kings 24:8 has ’eighteen,’which, as he was married (2 Kings 24:15), is doubtless correct.

10. His brother] In reality Zedekiah was brother to Jehoiachin’s father Jehoiakim, 1 Chronicles 3:15.

12. Jeremiah the prophet] For Zedekiah’s disregard of Jeremiah’s warnings see Jeremiah 34:8.; Jeremiah 37:2; Jeremiah 38:17. Contrast the attitude of Ahab towards Elijah, as described in 1 Kings 21:27-29.

13. Made him swear] Ezekiel refers to this in 2 Chronicles 17:13.

14. Moreover, etc.] In 2 Chronicles 36:14-16 the writer briefly explains the causes which led to the final destruction of Jerusalem and its inhabitants. For instances of the abominations of the heathen see 2 Kings 21:7, and what is implied in 1 Kings 15:12; 1 Kings 22:46.

15. Rising up.. sending] In the OT. such expressive anthropomorphisms are common; thus it is related that the Lord ’walked’ in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8), ’smelled’ Noah’s sacrifice (Genesis 8:21), ’came down’ to see Babel (Genesis 11:5), etc. Yet nowhere is the infinite distance separating God from human limitations and frailty more forcibly asserted; see Numbers 23:19; Isaiah 55:9.

16. Mocked the messengers] In the reign of Jehoiakim the prophet Urijah was put to death (Jeremiah 26:20-23), and in the reign of Zedekiah, Jeremiah underwent much persecution (Jeremiah 37, 38).

18. All the vessels, etc.] i.e. all that survived the spoliation described in 2 Chronicles 36:10.

20. The reign.. Persia] i.e. until the overthrow of Babylon by Cyrus in 538.

21. To fulfil threescore and ten years] If the period of 70 years is reckoned from the time when Jeremiah’s prophecy was uttered (Jehoiakim’s 4th year, 605 b.c.) till the return of the Jews to their own land in 536, the prediction (for which see Jeremiah 25:11; Jeremiah 29:10) was almost exactly fulfilled. Between the final destruction of Jerusalem in 586 and the Return just 50 years elapsed.

22. Now in the first, etc.] 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 are identical with the opening words of Ezra (2 Chronicles 1:1-3), and end in the middle of a sentence. (For the notes see the passage in Ezra.)